Stuart has received a string of glowing reviews in recent months for his hard-hitting debut novel, The Twelve.

His latest vote of approval has come from none other than Simon Le Bon, lead singer of pop group Duran Duran.

The Twelve is a gritty crime novel, set in post-Troubles Belfast and featuring an IRA killer haunted by his past.

Le Bon has reviewed it for the online book club section of the band's website.

He wrote: “I highly recommend this book; its right up there with the best of the year for me.”

The 80s pop star also stated: “I had to keep the book in my hands, even when I was quite busy doing something necessary, which wasn't reading, on the off chance that I might be able to grab the 20 seconds or so that it took to get to the end of the next paragraph.”

The celebrity endorsement was totally unexpected for Stuart.

He told the Belfast Telegraph: “I've had great reviews in the press and from other authors, but this was a bit of a surprise!

“My female friends have been swooning at the news.”

Best-selling author John Connolly said: “Not only one of the finest thriller debuts of the last 10 years, but also one of the best Irish novels, in any genre, of recent times.”

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